How to use your network in a beneficial way

By Jonathan Nkungu

WHERE DO I START…………………………………

“I don’t have a network”

Most of us use our network quite naturally throughout our lives. We ask for
and receive help and advice from people we know, in virtually every aspect of our lives – we just don’t think about it. We ask for advice when we are considering buying a car, going on holiday, starting an education, finding a home or looking for a partner. You need to be aware of how people in your close and peripheral social circle can help you find work. Many who are unfamiliar with the concept say they don’t have a network that can help them with their job search. You may be one of them. But be aware that your network may prove to be your greatest asset in your search, and could be a shortcut to a new dream job.                                                                                

Your social network

We are all part of multiple networks. Family, neighbours, friends and acquaintances are all examples of networks. Collectively, they make up your social network. But this isn’t something we think about on a daily basis. As mentioned previously, many of us use our social networks unconsciously, for all sorts of different things. We typically ask for help with practical things or seek advice when we’re making an important decision. The classic example is that we often meet our life partners through our social networks. Another common example is when you’re considering buying a new car. You’re interested in a Volvo, and since you know a good friend with one, you ask if she’s satisfied with it, where she bought it, etc.

Perhaps your car needs to be repaired and a good friend is a mechanic. It’s natural to ask him Or you want to make improvements to your home, so you ask your friend who’s a joiner for advice or may be for help. We all use our networks for things in life, big and small – but we just don’t think about it too often. We just do it, and it works well. Now that you’re looking for a new job, it pays to take a closer look at how to use your network                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Where to start

An obvious place to start is your social network. Is there anyone in your family or among your friends who can help you find a job? 

They know you so are able to provide tips and suggestions – e.g. companies they know or have heard about and where you might want to apply for work. Perhaps one of them works in a big company where they can give you the name of someone to whom you could submit an application.

Using social media – Facebook

Social media are here to stay and they have become a good way of keeping track of family, friends, colleagues, business partners and others in your network. You may already have a solid network of friends and acquaintances on Facebook. Remember that everyone in your network has his or her own network, of which you are a small part. Most people have more than 100 Facebook friends. This means that you are one

step removed from 10,000 potential contacts. You should make use of this fact. This can be done in several ways. But before you start, you should look closely at your Facebook friends. For a start, avoid suspicious types.                                                                                                                                                          

• Don’t display photos where you look drunk,

• Where you’re partially undressed or at some wild party or event.

• Be aware of what groups you join, and what they say about you.

• Ask yourself what impression you want to give to a potential employer, and

• What they’d think of you if they looked you up on Facebook.

• This is also a matter of you protecting yourself and your personal life.

Getting started

Start by making your own network aware that you are looking for a new job. All this requires is a status update in which you mention that you are looking for work and would love to e-mail your CV to anybody who is interested. You can also set up your own page on, e.g. linkedin.com and post the link on Facebook – preferably with a message to recipients that they are more than welcome to forward the link to others in their networks. This is a quick and effective way of spreading the message. A second, more strategic way to use Facebook is to find insiders – friends who work at the companies in which you’re interested. Find contacts that work in the company or maybe know someone who does, and then take steps to contact them. Ask about the working conditions, what qualities the company prizes, and whether s/he might be able to put in a good word for you.

Your professional network

But there is also another network, consisting of former work colleagues. This is called your professional network. During your working life, a large number of people have been colleagues at some level or other. Experience shows that this particular network is very effective when it comes to finding a new job. Your professional network consists of: 

• Former colleagues

• Former bosses

• People who you know in the sector

• Suppliers

• Collaborators

• Customers.

People in your professional network know you both professionally and personally. This means that their recommendation has a higher degree of credibility and can open many more doors for you in terms of potential jobs and companies. They can also give you tips and suggestions for your job search, e.g. suggestions of companies they know or have heard about where you can submit unsolicited applications. They also have their own professional and personal networks, so before you know it, you’ll have expanded your network just by making your circle of friends aware that you are looking for work and would like tips on who to contact;

How to use your network – LinkedIn

LinkedIn is another virtual network for the more career-minded. Here, you can set up a profile and upload your CV. Many employers and recruitment companies use it when searching for candidates for a vacancy.

Think of it as a folder containing electronic business cards. The brilliant thing about LinkedIn is that you can keep track of your contacts. You will automatically be notified whenever one of your contacts changes job or position. LinkedIn also acts as an online CV. It is a quick way to distribute your CV and see those of others, which is useful when preparing for an interview. You can learn about the person who will be interviewing you. You can also join trade and professional groups, a route many have used to find new contacts and job opportunities.

LinkedIn

Another important function is the option to recommend someone. It may be your former boss or a colleague. It always looks good in the eyes of potential employers if you have been recommended. Headhunters and recruitment companies are also extremely active on LinkedIn

Recommendation

Although many believe that “all’s fair in war, love and job-hunting”, you must remember to comply with the rules and norms. Don’t claim to have titles, degrees or diplomas you don’t have – and make sure the ones you do have are from recognized colleges or universities. Remember that your former colleagues and classmates are watching.

Getting started

If you are not already on www.linkedin.com click on the link and register. If you are already signed up and have contacts, update your profile. You may want to signify that you are looking for a job, and list your expectations for a new post. This will automatically be sent to your contacts when you next update your status. You can also send messages directly to your contacts, stating your wishes and expectations for the future.

You can also use LinkedIn as a search engine. You can search for specific companies, see who works there and compare their qualifications to your own. You can also search for new contacts. All you need is a name or e-mail address. Join trade and professional groups or forums within your work area. Here, you will often find new contacts, and many companies post job advertisements in these forums. The value of a network is not only a question of the number of people you know and have been in contact with. It’s also about the quality of these acquaintanceships, the nature of your relationship with the people in question and, not least, the positions they occupy. In other words, whether the person will be able to open doors for you.

When you first make contact with people in your network, ask if you can pop in for a short meeting or call them on the phone. Say you are between jobs and tell them about what kind of work you’re looking for. Also, talk briefly about your background and qualifications, and give them your CV and phone number. You may even want to order some business cards online, which you can easily hand out when you meet someone who could be useful to you.

Ask them if they have any ideas for things you can do, or suggestions about who to contact with a view to submitting unsolicited applications or establishing contact with a company in some other way. Ask if they’ll be willing to provide advice throughout your search for a new job We also recommend that look at the following guide if you want more information about using LinkedIn http://learn.linkedin.com/new-users/

“I don’t like contacting people I know”

For various reasons, many jobseekers don’t like contacting someone they know and asking for help. Maybe you’re one of those who think it’s embarrassing or outside of your comfort zone – or maybe you just don’t like to be any hassle. But remember that most people are basically friendly and helpful, as long as you approach them in the right way. Think back to situations where someone has asked you for help and how you helped out. Weren’t you pleased to help? Nor should you forget that most of us have actually experienced losing a job, being unemployed and looking for a new job. They will understand you and your situation better than you think. They know how hard it is to be in your situation and how important it is to feel

that your circle is helping and supporting you in your job search. So rest assured that they will be pleased to help you. When you contact your network about jobs, observe the following rules:

Never ask for a job – ask for a suggestion

Never ask a favour – ask for advice

Say, for example:

• “If you hear of a job, please bear me in mind.”

• “I’m looking for a new job. Can you give me some advice?”

• “I’ve been made redundant, so if you hear of anything that might be interesting for me, please let me know.”

Also be aware that a network is based on give and take, so you must be willing to reciprocate later.

Assignment

Everybody has a much bigger network than they think. Start by drawing up a list of 40-50 people. This may sound like a lot, but your network will be much bigger than you think. Evaluate your network The value of a network is not only a question of the number of people you know and have been in contact with. It’s also about the quality of those acquaintanceships. What kind of relationships do you have with these people? Who can advance your professional development and open doors for you? Divide them into two groups. Group 1 consists of those who can open the door to a potential job. Group 2 you delete.

Use your network

Contact the people on your list. Either pop in for a short meeting with them or get in touch by phone.

• Tell them that you are looking for a job and what kind of job you’d like.
• Give the impression that you’re not just passively waiting for the right job to come up but have decided to be proactive.
• Briefly tell them about your background and your qualifications and give them your CV and phone number
• Also tell them about the jobs you’ve already applied for
• Ask for ideas and suggestions for people and companies to contact
• Ask if you can use them as sparring partners.  
• Stick to the business at hand – don’t complain about your situation or moan about being made redundant 
• Request permission to use them as references.

Discocer how great you can be, Its the time to get hired

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